A shooting incident at a private school just north of Edinburgh. Two seventeen-year-olds killed by an ex-Army loner who has gone off the rails. As Detective Inspector John Rebus puts it, 'there's no mystery ... except the why.' But this question takes Rebus into the heart of a shattered community. Ex-Army himself, Rebus becomes fascinated by the killer, and finds that he is not alone. Army investigators are on the scene, and won't be shaken off. The killer had friends and enemies to spare — ranging from civic leaders to the local Goths — leaving behind a legacy of secrets and lies. Rebus has had more than his share of personal problems too. He is fresh out of hospital, hands heavily bandaged, and he won't say how it happened. Could there be a connection with a house fire and the unfortunate death of a petty criminal who had been harassing Rebus's colleague Siobhan Clarke? Rebus's bosses seem to think so ...

'James Macpherson deserves a special place in the audiobook hall of fame. He takes you inside Rebus's head and makes you want to stay there.' Christina Hardyment, Independent

James Macpherson played DCI Jardine in Taggart for fifteen years — and then moved to The Bill. He has acted on stage in plays as diverse as The Taming of the Shrew and works by Hamish Wilson. He also presents a regular books programme for Radio Scotland -- for which he has interviewed Ian Rankin. He lives in Glasgow.